Harness-hanger



(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

J. PEARSE' 81; E. L. KEEHN.

I HARNESS HANGER.

N0. 464,266. 6 Patented D66. 1,1891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. PBARSE & E. L. KEEHN. HARNESS HANGER.

N0. 464,266. Patented D60. 1, 1891.

E V i WIT/V5885 v flVE/VTOBS ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

JULIUS PEARSE AND EDlVARD L. KEEHN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

HARNESS-HANGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,266, dated December 1, 1891.

Application filed February Z8, 1891. Serial No. 383,296. (No model.)

To aZZ whom. it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JULIUS PEARSE and EDWARD L. KEEHN, both citizens of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of 0010- rado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness-Hangers; and we do declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in harness hangers or supporters of the class designed for use by the fire departments of cities, where the best facilities for quick work in attaching the harness to the team and releasing it from its supports are necessary and desirable.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the class stated which shall be simple in construct-ion, economical in cost, reliable in operation, and durable in use, and which shall meet every requirement in a device of this kind.

To this end the invention consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of our improved device in position for use, a harness being shown in position thereon. Only such portions ofthe harness are shown, however, as are considered necessary to illustrate the use of the device. Fig. 2 is a side View of the device in the closed position or atthe moment the harness is released therefrom. Fig. 3 is atop view of the mechanism on an enlarged scale, the long arms being partially broken away. Fig. 4 is an enlarged underneath view partially broken away. Figs. 5 and 6 are rear and top views, respectively, illustrating the rear transverse arm.

In the views, wherein similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts or elements of the mechanism, let the numeral 10 designate a vertical rod, to the upper extremity of which is attached a cord 11, by

free sliding vertical movement upon said rod.

To one extremity of bar 12'is pivoted one extremity of an arm 13, extending forward and terminating in ahook 14,0ver which is passed a ring 15, slidingly secured to a metal strap 16, having its extremities made fast to the collar 17, thus forming an elongated eye, which permits the collar to be looked upon the horse without releasing it from the support.

To the opposite extremity of bar 12 is pivoted another arm 18, which extends backward and forms a support for the rear transverse bar '19, which is centrally pivoted thereon. Bar 19 terminates at its extremities in hooks 20, over which pass rings or eyes 21, secured to straps made fast to the tugs 23 on each side of the harness. To the lower extremity of rod 10 are pivoted two pairs of arms 24, one pair extending forward and the other backward, these pairs being respectively pivoted to arms 13 and 18. Arm 13 is provided with a movable weight 9 for the purpose of balancing the mechanism, since the rear portion is heavier than the forward portion when the device is supported at its longitudinal center and the correspondingparts made of the same gravity, which is preferable. This weight is regulated by a set-screw 8.

Centrally pivoted upon bar 12 is a bellcranklocking-lever25,terminatingattheouter extremity of its upper arm in an eye, into which is tied or otherwise suitably secured a cord 26, which should-terminate within convenient reach of the driver when in his seat and ready to leave the barn. The free extremity of the lower arm of lever 25 terminates in a hook 27 adapted to engage the pivot 28, which connects rod 10 with arms 24, said pivot being of sufiicient length for the purpose, as shown in Fig. 4. Rod 10 consists of two parts 10 and 10 pivoted at 29 and forming a joint the parts of which move freely upon each other. The obj cot of this joint is to allow the device to adapt itself to the position of the horses in case they should take a few steps, as is often the case, after the harness is attached, but before the device is released therefrom.

In the use of the device the horse walks under the harness when in the position upon the supporter as shown in Fig. 1. From this view it will be observed that the outside of the harness-is supported higher than the inner side. This position is permitted by reason of bar 19 being pivoted upon arm 18, as hereinbefore explained, and results from the fact that when the collar is unhooked from the neck of the horse the outer side is thrown upward to the position shown, the inner side being held back by a chain 30, which is secured to the collar at one extremity and to the outer end of the pole or tongue of the vehicle at the opposite extremity, the two chains 30 forming the neck-yokefor the team. Hence as the outer side of the collar is drawn from the locked position the corresponding side of the harness is raised, the opposite side drawn down, and bar 19 tilted to the position shown in Fig. 1, its outer extremity being higher than its inner extremity, and the harness so raised on the outside as to permit the horse to walk thereunder freely and without coming in contact with its parts. WVhen the collar is looked around the neck of the horse, the tugs being already hooked to chains 35, secured to the whiffletrees, the driver pulls cord 26, which releases lever 25 from the locking position, when the weight of the harness causes the device to assume at once the position shown in Fig. 2, the inner extremities of arms 13 and 18 being raised while the outer arms are drawn inward, thus releasing the harness from the device, which is immediately drawn up out of the way, as heretofore explained, the parts at the same time returning to the locked position, as shown in Fig. 1.

Havingthus described our invention, what we claim is 1. A harness-hanger consisting of a vertical supporting-rod, a bar or block slidingly secured thereon, two arms 13 and 18, pivoted to block 12 at opposite sides of the rod, arm 13 extending forward and terminating in a hook and arm 18 extending backward and provided with a transverse horizontal bar 19, centrally scoured thereto atits outer extremity, bar 19. terminating in hooked extremities, and two arms 24, pivoted at their outer extremities to rods 13 and 18, respectively, at equal distances from block 12, the opposite extremities of said last-named arms being both pivoted to the lower extremity of rod 10, and suitable means of locking the sliding block in such a position on its rod as to maintain arms 13 and 18 in a horizontal position or in a position approximating the horizontal, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A harness-hanger consisting of a supporting-rod '10, provided at a suitable point between its extremities with a flexible joint, a block 12, slidingly secured on said rod, two arms 13 and 18, pivoted to block 12 upon opposite sides of rod 10, arm 13 extending forward and terminating in a hook and arm 18 extending backward and provided with a transverse cross-bar centrally secured to the outer extremity of the arm, bar 19, terminatin g in hooked extremities,,two bars 24, having their outer extremities pi voted to arms 13 and 18, respectively, at a suitable distance from block 12, the opposite extremities of arms 24: being both pivoted to rod 10 below the joint,

. and means for locking block 12 in a suitable position upon its rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Aharness-hauger consisting of'a supporting-rod 10, a block 12, slidingly secured thereon, arms 13 and 18, pivoted to block 12 on opposite sides of the rod, one arm 13 extending forward and provided with a hook to support the collarand arm 18 extending backward and provided with a transverse arm pivoted thereon and provided with hooks at its extremities to support the rear part of the harness, and two arms 24, pivoted at their outer extremities to arms 13 and 18, respectively, and pivoted at their inner extremities to the supporting-rod at a suitablepoint, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4-. A harness-hanger consisting of a supporting-rod 10, a block 12, slidingly secured thereon, arms 13 and 18, pivoted to block 12 on opposite sides of the block, rod 13 extending forward and fashioned to support the harness in front and rod 18 extending backward and provided with a transverse bar secured thereon and fashioned to support the harness in the rear, two arms 24, pivoted at theirouter extremities to rods 13 and 18, respectively, their inner extremities being pivoted to rod 10 at a suitable point, and. a locking-lever fulcrumed on block 12 and adapted to automatically maintain said block in a suitable position upon the supporting-rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

J [ILIUS PEARSE. EDWARD L. KEEPIN. Witnesses;

WM. MoCoNNELL, F. H. JOHNSON. 

